Gardener{3 s glove

ABSTRACT

A gardener&#39;&#39;s glove formed of a thin, flexible tough material having finger members and an elongated sleeve. Tool elements are associated with one or more finger members and may be formed integral therewith or otherwise secured thereto. The tool elements extend beyond the tips of the finger members and are curved away therefrom toward the palm to form work engaging portions. Tool means in the form of claws can be provided adjacent the ends of the tool elements remote from the work engaging portions.

United States Patent 1 1 3,593,803

[72] Inventor Charles W. lbach 1,523,059 1/1925 Dunham 1 r 30/298 7198 Versail R y. 14047 2,954,832 10/1960 Pirone 172/370 1 1 PP N0 787,365 FOREIGN PATENTS 5253 3?? 575,327 1/1927 Australia 30/298 90,398 3/1896 Germany 30/298 323,863 1/1930 Great Britain 172/370 GARDENERS GLOVE Primary Examiner-Robert Ev Pulfrey 6 Claims, 3 Drawing 8 Assistant Examiner-Stephen C. Pellegrino [52] [1.8. CI 172/370, y riste1 an Bean 172/378, 294/25, 30/298, 2/21, 2/160 [51] Int.Cl A0111 1/00,

19/00 ABSTRACT: A gardener's glove formed of a thin, flexible [50] Field Of Search 172/370, tough material having finger members and an elongated 371, 3781/159, 21; 294/25; 30/298 sleeve. Tool elements are associated with one or more finger References Cited members and may be formed integral therewith or otherwise secured thereto. The tool elements extend beyond the tips of UNITED STATES PATENTS the finger members and are curved away therefrom toward the 3,404,409 10/1968 Tillotson et a1. 2/161 palm to form work engaging portions. Tool means in the form 183,375 10/1876 Cutliff 172/370 UX of claws can be provided adjacent the ends of the tool ele 909,018 1/ 1909 Paxton 172/370 mehts remote from the work engaging portions.

PATENTH} JUL 20 m1 SHEET 1 [IF 2 R O T N E V m CHARLES W IBACH TTQR NE Y;

GARDENERS GLOVE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to gloves and, more particularly, to gloves having tool elements thereon.

In landscaping and gardening operations, tool implements are used for various purposes such as digging, raking, weeding, etc. In areas of crowded vegetation, the tools may be bulky and cumbersome so that the gardener resorts to raking and digging with his fingers. Although gloves may be worn by the gardener for these operations, they are not entirely satisfactory because of their relatively soft exterior surfaces and cannot perform certain rough work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved glove construction having tool means as sociated with the finger members.

It is another object of this invention to provide a glove construction for protecting the hand and arm of the wearer and having tool elements integrally formed with the material of the glove.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a glove construction having flexible toolelements associated with the finger members and movable relative thereto.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characterizing features of the present invention will become clearly apparent from the ensuing detailed description of an illustra tive embodiment thereof, taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals denotelike parts throughout the various views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the glove of this invention with tool elements secured to the fingers and thumb thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a glove illustrating another form of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one finger of a glove of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown an illustrative embodiment of a work glove, generally designated 10, of the present invention comprising a palm portion 12, a back portion (not shown), finger members 16, a thumb member I8, and a sleeve 20 of sufficient length to protect the arms against scratches from thorny and jagged vegetation.

Glove is formed of leather or any other thin, flexible, tough material and is provided with tool elements 22 formed of a durable, rigid, material such as fiberglass resin. impregnated by way of example. Tool elements 22 are bonded or otherwise fixedly secured to finger members 16 and thumb member 18.

Tool elements 22 are generally substantially identical so that a detailed description of one will suffice for all. Each tool element has an elongated shank portion 24 longitudinally curved to follow the contour of the finger member to which portion 24 is secured and is arcuate in cross section to follow the transverse curvature of finger member 16. Shank portion 24 terminates in a curved portion 26 extending downwardly from palm portion 12 and having a generally flat edge or tip 28. Of course, curved portion 26 can terminate in a curved or pointed edge, if desired, and the degree of curvature away from the finger member or sharpness of the edge can be varied to suite the particular work to be done.

As a result of the above described glove construction, various gardening operations such as digging, raking, gathering leaves and rubbish, cleaning hedges, cultivating, sorting, planting and weeding can be perfomied without the use of extraneous bulky and cumbersome tools. The glove is particularly useful in areas of crowded vegetation where the tool elements can be easily applied to the work area while avoiding damage to plants. Also, the glove provides ample protection for the hand and arm of the wearer while permitting unrestricted movement of the hand and fingers. Work may be performed by a single finger or with a plurality of fingers as required. It should be understood that [the entire glove can be formed of a plastic material with the fingers and hand enclosure made of a thin, flexible, tough plastic material and the tool elements formed integral therewith but composed of a more durable, rigid plastic material.

FIG. 2 illustrates another form of glove construction of this invention and comprises a glove 30, formed of leather or any other thin, flexible, tough material and includes a palm portion 32, a back portion (not shown), finger members 36, a thumb member 38, and a sleeve 40 of sufficient length to protect the arm against scratches from prickly vegetation.

A cover 42 is provided with a portion 44 encircling the midsection of glove 30 and has three finger members 46 covering three finger members 36 of glove 30 as shown in FIG. 2. Pormember 32. Finger members 46 can be adhesively bonded or otherwise fixedly secured at their tips to the outer surfaces of the tips of finger members 36. A plurality of elongated tool elements 50, formed of a springy, resiliently yieldable metal are interposed between glove 30 and cover 42. Tool elements 50 extend toward and along finger members 36 and are pivotally mounted atone end on a common pivot pin 52 extending through the inner face of glove 30 at approximately the wrist portion. The pivotal mounting of tool elements 50 permits lateral swinging movement thereof when finger members 36 are opened and closed. The other ends of tool elements 50 are provided with free end portions 54 terminating in flat edges or tips 56. As mentioned in connection with the form of invention shown in FIG. 1, portions 54 can terminate in curved or pointed edges, if desired, and the sharpness of the point can be varied to suit the particular work to be done. Although three finger members 46 are provided on cover 42 and three tool elements 50 are conveniently employed for most purposes, it is to be understood that any necessary or desired number can be used within the purview of this invention.

A plurality oflongitudinally spaced guide support tracks 58 are fastened to the outer surface of palm portion 32 and provide bearing support for the relatively slidable tool elements 50. Rigid support guides 60 are provided with projections 62 adjacent the tips of finger members 36 and are bent outwardly away from finger members 36 to guide tool 50 in arcuate paths (FIG. 3). Tool elements 50 are generally flat with edges 56 terminating at the tips of finger members 36. When the wearer flexes his hand, tool elements 50 bend in a curved path and edges 56 extend beyond the tips of finger members 36. Tool means in the form of claws 64 are provided on the rearward portions of tool elements 50 and project in a direction generally normal thereto away from glove 30. These claws 64, in conjunction with portions 54 of tool elements 50, act as a clam bucket and are effective for gripping various awkward and rough surfaced articles such as logs, lumber, bricks, etc.

A plurality of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending slots 66 are provided in finger members 46 to permit flexing of such members so that the user's fingers can be easily bent inwardly about their joints, thereby promoting comfort and reducing fatigue. The end portions 54 of tool elements 50 protrude through the most remote slots 66 located at the tips of finger members 46. The above described form of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, can perform all of the functions set forth in connection with the form shown in FIG. I and has the added advantage of grasping articles with a clam bucket grip. If desired, however, claws 64 may be deleted and glove 30 may be used in a manner similar to glove 10.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the objects of the present invention have been fully accomplished. Illustrative embodiments of the principles of this invention having been described and illustrated, it is to be understood that this has been done by way ofillustration only.

lclaim:

l. A glove comprising: a body having a back portion, a palm portion, finger members and a sleeve portion, a plurality of tool elements formed of narrow strips of resilient material extending along said finger members, respectively, said tool elements being pivotally connected at their one ends about a common pivot axis on said palm portion, said pivot axis extending generally normal to said palm portion; said tool elements having portions extending through said finger members and terminating in work engaging tips at the other ends thereof axially slidable through openings in said finger members.

2. A glove according to claim 1 together with tools mounted on said tool elements adjacent said one ends thereof.

3. A glove according to claim 1 together with track means secured to said body for guiding said tool elements.

4. A glove according to claim 3 wherein said track means include curved projections bent outwardly away from said finger members and located adjacent said openings for guiding said tool elements in arcuate paths.

5. A glove according to claim I wherein said finger members are formed of two layers of material with said tool element portions extending therebetween.

6. A glove according to claim 1 together with means for facilitating the flexing of said finger members. 

1. A glove comprising: a body having a back portion, a palm portion, finger members and a sleeve portion, a plurality of tool elements formed of narrow strips of resilient material extending along said finger members, respectively, said tool elements being pivotally connected at their one ends about a common pivot axis on said palm portion, said pivot axis extending generally normal to said palm portion; said tool elements having portions extending through said finger members and terminating in work engaging tips at the other ends thereof axially slidable through openings in said finger members.
 2. A glove according to claim 1 together with tools mounted on said tool elements adjacent said one ends thereof.
 3. A glove according to claim 1 together with track means secured to said body for guiding said tool elements.
 4. A glove according to claim 3 wherein said track means include curved projections bent outwardly away from said finger members and located adjacent said openings for guiding said tool elements in arcuate paths.
 5. A glove according to claim 1 wherein said finger members are formed of two layers of material with said tool element portions extending therebetween.
 6. A glove according to claim 1 together with means for facilitating the flexing of said finger members. 